If you like tulips then there are a number of other spring flowering bulbs that you will love! This list showcases flower bulbs that are super early bloomers, have stop-you-in-your-tracks fragrance, or produce unique flowers that give tulips a run for their money.Tulips are wonderful plants. Frilly parrot tulips, deep-dark-almost-black purple tulips, cheery giant tulips, and many more can be found in my garden beds.But tulips aren’t the only spring flowering bulbs I give space to in my garden.
I get just as much (maybe even more) enjoyment out of these outstanding spring bloomers.Bulbs already sprouted? That’s quite alright. Still pop it in the ground.Sponsored Content: I’m proudly partnering with FlowerBulbs.com to share this list of extraordinary spring flowering bulbs to plant in the fall. FlowerBulbs.com’s goal is to help spread information and love for gardening through bulbs. While I was creating this list of the bulbs I grow in my garden, I used the site as a resource for the growing information and some gorgeous photos.
While this list is a compilation of my 12 favourite bulbs, corms, and tubers to plant in fall, there are many more to search through in FlowerBulbs.com’s spring database.If you are scanning this list, you might feel compelled to shout, “Hey, that’s not a bulb!” I get it; words are important, especially when writing about plants.Botanically, tulips grow from bulbs, but other plants that could be considered “flower bulbs” actually grow from corms (like crocuses) or tubers (like dahlias).
Read more about this differentiation in this post on How to Plant Fall Bulbs.Snowdrop (Galanthus spp.Snowdrops are close to my heart because they are the very first flower that shows its head in late winter, letting us know that spring is close at hand.These delicate white and green bell-shaped flowers may seem unassuming, but in the winter, when everything else is gray and brown and dreary, their sweet stalks and blooms are like a breath of fresh air.Snowdrop bulbs can be hard to find in the fall, but if you’re lucky enough to stumble upon some at your local garden center, buy them and get them in the ground as soon as possible because they can dry out easily.
Early to bloom, snowdrops are January’s birthflower.Snowflakes are similar to snowdrops in how early they bloom, although they have six equal-length petals and are a much rarer bulb to come by. They love moist soil and are perfect planted beside a pond or water garden. These are well-suited for the rainy winter conditions of my Vancouver garden.Photo courtesy of flowerbulbs.com. Snowflakes naturalize easily in the garden.Dutch Hyacinth (Hyacinthus spp.In the Victorian era, hyacinths were revered for their scent.
It was common to devote an entire garden to these fragrant flowers alone. Plant in full sun or partial shade and they will bloom in early spring.Photo courtesy of flowerbulbs.com. In the right conditions, hyacinths can be perennial bulbs.Grape hyacinths are not at all related to Dutch hyacinths; they are the Muscari genus, which has about 30 different species. While they are all prolific bulbs that naturalize easily, the colours can range from white to deep blue and, of course, grape-purple.Muscari look beautiful when planted in rivers through gardens, and they do extremely well in containers.
The individual blooms may be diminutive, but grown together they are absolutely stunning.Grape hyacinths bloom longer than most other spring flowering bulbs too. They make a great cut flower, they provide an early nectar source for pollinators (except for the double ones) and they are deer and rabbit resistant.Grape hyacinth may not be tall, but they naturalize and last a long time in the garden compared to other bulbs.Fritillaria meleagris is sometimes called Checkered Lily or Snake Lily. It looks exotic with its downward-facing, bell-shaped flowers in purple and white checkers.
It does well in the shade and thrives in moist soil. I visited a woodland garden where it naturalized easily, and the masses of checkers beneath the mossy trees were picture-perfect. Fritillaria blooms in mid-spring.Photo courtesy of flowerbulbs.com. These bulbs are usually sold in mixed colours.Imperial Fritillaria is every bit as weird to plant as it is to enjoy in the garden. The bulbs are large, and they do not smell good, so you will want to get them planted as soon as they arrive.This also keeps them from getting damaged if the roots begin to sprout.
They have a distinctive musky smell when blooming, which isn’t for everyone but that scent deters moles, deer, and squirrels. I personally enjoy planting them because they look like they are wearing crowns.This is one of the earliest plants to be cultivated.Oxalis are lovely plants for both foliage and flowers. Known as Silver Shamrocks, they have pretty clover-like leaves and pink blooms. In the right conditions they are trouble-free plants that naturalize easily, resist pests and disease, and are even deer and rabbit proof.
They are happy in sun or part shade, as long as there is excellent drainage. Rock gardens and pots are perfect for oxalis.Photo courtesy of flowerbulbs.com. Oxalis originally comes from Chili and Argentina.Dutch Iris produces elegant, deep blue or purple flower heads atop long, slender stalks, creating a stunning display that’s not to be missed. In Greek mythology, the goddess Iris represented the link between heaven and earth, and it’s no wonder these heavenly flowers bear her name now. Plant in a sunny area in early fall.
Irises attract pollinators and make beautiful cut flowers.They also do well when grown in containers.Crocus (Iridaceae spp.Crocuses are a member of the iris family and one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring. They are beautiful and can be planted in the garden bed or directly in the lawn for a meadowy look (they’ll start to die back by the time the lawn comes in enough to need mowing).They are also wonderful for layering in beds or pots above other bulbs or perennials, as they provide early blooms and die back just as the later flowers begin to sprout.
In addition to providing colourful early spring blooms in purple, white, and yellow, crocus is a beneficial source of pollen for our bee friends.Scatter crocus and plant where they fall for a naturalized look.Ornamental Onion (Alliums spp.Ok, I’ll admit, I’m addicted to alliums! These powerhouses are gorgeous and unique ornamentals and tasty edibles, and some varieties have sculptural seed heads that can be dried and used as striking home décor. For more information, see this Essential Guide to Alliums.
Even once done blooming, the unique seed heads provide some garden beauty.During the nineteenth century in Europe, people believed that anemone flowers would ward off bad luck, so planting these might just bring you luck and will certainly yield a ton of beauty in the garden.Anemones are hardworking plants with flowers in striking, deep jewel tones. They produce many blooms from each tuber so they are a great cutting flower that just keeps going from spring to summer. Tip: soak the tubers for a couple of hours before planting.
Photo courtesy of flowerbulbs.com. Anemones are also sometimes called windflowers.Daffodil (Narcissus spp.The sunny yellow trumpets of daffodils are a symbol of spring season change and look striking when planted en masse.Before you pass by this beauty as too common, it’s worth having a look at some of the gorgeous varieties that show why the Narcissus species was aptly named after the Greek god known for his beauty. Check out the ruffled blooms of double daffodils as well as unique colours like “Westward,” “Pink Wonder,” “Tahiti,” and “Sorbet.
” See my full daffodil guide here.Landscape uses: Daffodils are suitable for almost every possible application: fields, beds, containers, borders, rock gardens, as cut flowers, and for forcing.Daffodils come in many hues and combinations of yellow, cream, and orange.Can I plant bulbs that have sprouted already? Bulbs that have already sprouted can still be planted. They’ve likely been left out a little longer and are reacting to the warm conditions. They will pop up just fine in the spring. Plant as indicated, roughly three times the size of the bulb deep.
When should I plant spring flowering bulbs? Spring flowering bulbs should be planted in the fall, beginning in mid-September to mid-December, depending on where you live. You want to ensure they’re in the ground before it freezes. Typically once you buy them, you should plant them shortly after. Should I water the bulbs after I plant them? You should immediately water spring flowering bulbs after planting them. This will encourage the plant to grow roots and get them established before the cold temperatures arrive.
Bulbs planted in pots should also be watered afterward, and continued to be watered until the soil dries out in the pots quickly.
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